News Section - 03.21.07
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Renovating your home is messy, inconvenient, and expensive.  Many people would rather pack up and move to a new house than renovate their existing one!  If you’ve decided to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, you may be in for a surprise - it can be a difficult and frustrating business, and many people aren’t prepared for just how crazy it can get.  But don’t worry - The New York Kitchen and Bath Company – NYKB is here to help you make this process run more smoothly, so you can stay sane during construction.

First, before you even start remodeling, it’s vital to have a good plan of the construction materials you’ll use and the budget you have allotted for the renovation.  It’s important to begin the process with realistic expectations of the money you’ll have to spend and the results you’ll get.  If you don’t, you may end up overshooting your budget or being disappointed with the results.  You can prevent this by being realistic or even pessimistic when it comes to your budget.  Calculate how much you plan to pay for building materials and the contractor’s fee - then add about 15% extra to the total.  This way you will have any unexpected problems covered, and if complications arise, they won’t give you any extra stress, because they’re already accounted for in your budget.

The next important point is choosing your contractor.  Hire someone who comes with excellent references, especially when it comes to finishing on time and on budget.  Just as important, hire someone you trust and feel comfortable with.  Having a good relationship with your contractor can make all the difference between a pain-free renovation and suffering through one that just makes you crazy.

With your budget sorted out and a contractor hired, you’re ready to start the renovations.  There are two ways you can help make this process easier.  First, keep in regular contact with your contractor.  A good contractor will keep you up to date with the construction process anyway, but it’s always good to contact them yourself when you need some reassurance.

Second, make yourself scarce around the house during the worst parts of the process, particularly demolition.  Renovation projects make your home inconvenient to live in at the best of times, and it creates stress that you can do without.  There’s nothing fun about watching your bathroom being torn apart, or having to wash dishes in the bathtub, while the new kitchen plumbing is being installed!  It’s a great idea to schedule some vacation or travel time when the renovation is going on, especially during the demolition.  If you’ve been putting off a vacation or a trip to visit friends or relatives who live out of town, this is the perfect time to do it.  You can leave contact information with your contractor if any issues arise that need your input, so there’ll be no need to worry about how the renovation is proceeding while you’re away.

Sometimes it can be stressful just living in a home that’s undergoing renovation, particularly when it’s your kitchen or bathroom.  If your kitchen is undergoing renovation, it’s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to cook meals in it.  This is a great opportunity to do something you may have always wanted to - eat out every night!  No cooking, no cleaning up, and the chance to explore new restaurants and discover some tasty new cuisine.  Better yet, it’s a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends that you’ve just been too busy to find the time for.

If it’s your bathroom that’s undergoing renovation, it can be very inconvenient finding ways to do all those things you take for granted - brushing your teeth and washing your face can be accomplished in the kitchen, but where on earth are you going to shower every morning?  This can add unneeded stress to your life, but think of it simply as another opportunity - get up a little earlier each morning, grab your gym clothes, and start exercising more!  Head out to the gym after breakfast for a quick workout, and you can shower there afterwards before you go to work.

Of course, even if you make an effort to stay out of the house as much as possible while it’s being renovated, you’ll still have to sleep there.  Construction and renovation creates an inhospitable atmosphere, though - there’s always plenty of dust kicking around, making the air dry and irritating.  Combat this by purchasing an air purifier or humidifier, so you can live in relative comfort during the construction process.